Unlike a dog show, cats take center stage by sitting there and being 'beautiful'

Updated 10:13 pm, Sunday, January 6, 2013

DAVID: A bicolor Persian owned by Liza Callaghan of Katy is shown during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Houston.

DAVID: A bicolor Persian owned by Liza Callaghan of Katy is shown during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Houston.

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle

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JUST MY LUCK: Irene Allen of LaPorte entertains her bicolor Persian cat named Just My Luck during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Houston. He is four-months-old and this was his first show. less

JUST MY LUCK: Irene Allen of LaPorte entertains her bicolor Persian cat named Just My Luck during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle

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PASHA BLUE: Vicki Nye judges a house cat that is owned by Kristen Halverson of Bastrop during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Houston. less

PASHA BLUE: Vicki Nye judges a house cat that is owned by Kristen Halverson of Bastrop during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle

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BRAD PAISLEY: Toban Dvoretzky holds up his one-year-old son, Edward Dvoretzky, to pet a cream Persian cat named Brad Paisley that is owned by Warren Joubert of Alexandria, LA during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Houston. less

BRAD PAISLEY: Toban Dvoretzky holds up his one-year-old son, Edward Dvoretzky, to pet a cream Persian cat named Brad Paisley that is owned by Warren Joubert of Alexandria, LA during the Houston Cat Club 60th ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle

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CRYSTAL LAKE and FROSTY: Sheryl Zink carries Tonkinese breed cats back to their resting place after showing during the Houston Cat Club's 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston. less

CRYSTAL LAKE and FROSTY: Sheryl Zink carries Tonkinese breed cats back to their resting place after showing during the Houston Cat Club's 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on ... more

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

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ARWEN: Donna Fuller judges a Siberian cat named Arwen during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Houston.

ARWEN: Donna Fuller judges a Siberian cat named Arwen during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Houston.

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle

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YAZOO: The Somali breed show cat from Bayoufoxes Cattery is held by owner Anne Paul while they are taking a break during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston. less

YAZOO: The Somali breed show cat from Bayoufoxes Cattery is held by owner Anne Paul while they are taking a break during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on ... more

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

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ICING ON THE CAKE: The Sphinx breed cat is carried by owner Becky Brown after a competition during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston. less

ICING ON THE CAKE: The Sphinx breed cat is carried by owner Becky Brown after a competition during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, ... more

COMESEE JUST MY LUCK: Irene Allen carries the cat who will be competing in the Persian breed category during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston. less

COMESEE JUST MY LUCK: Irene Allen carries the cat who will be competing in the Persian breed category during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, ... more

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

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DARE TO DREAM: Judge Gary Powell evaluates 'Dare to Dream', with the Catajam Cattery, in the Oriental Longhair Division during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston. less

DARE TO DREAM: Judge Gary Powell evaluates 'Dare to Dream', with the Catajam Cattery, in the Oriental Longhair Division during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention ... more

AMERICAN GIRL: Judge Gary Powell inspects the cat from the Klazee Katz Cattery in the Oriental Shorthair Division during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston. less

AMERICAN GIRL: Judge Gary Powell inspects the cat from the Klazee Katz Cattery in the Oriental Shorthair Division during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on ... more

AS YOU WISH: Judge Gary Powell evaluatesthe Russian Blue during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston.

AS YOU WISH: Judge Gary Powell evaluatesthe Russian Blue during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston.

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

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Suzanne Correira carries 'Pasha Blue', a mixed Japanese Bobtail cat and the winner of the cat costume contest during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston. less

Suzanne Correira carries 'Pasha Blue', a mixed Japanese Bobtail cat and the winner of the cat costume contest during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on ... more

HOLLYWOOD: Melody Venatta, owner of Retro Kitty Cattery, carries 'Hollywood', a Championship Class Sphynx breed show cat, as show attendees reach out to pet him during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston. less

HOLLYWOOD: Melody Venatta, owner of Retro Kitty Cattery, carries 'Hollywood', a Championship Class Sphynx breed show cat, as show attendees reach out to pet him during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity ... more

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

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Connor Schutz, 4, walks with his stuffed animal cat in his sweater while viewing live cats in the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston. less

Connor Schutz, 4, walks with his stuffed animal cat in his sweater while viewing live cats in the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in ... more

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

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Santiago Lopez, 7, smiles as Irene Allen's cat plays with a feather while he and his brother Sebastian Lopez, 6, take turns petting it during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston. less

Santiago Lopez, 7, smiles as Irene Allen's cat plays with a feather while he and his brother Sebastian Lopez, 6, take turns petting it during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown ... more

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

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Larry Stuart carries daughter Isabel Stuart, 6, who pays attention to the judging of a cat costume contest during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston. less

Larry Stuart carries daughter Isabel Stuart, 6, who pays attention to the judging of a cat costume contest during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on ... more

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

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Ragdoll breed show cats 'Quannah Parker' and "Les Bon Temps Rouler", of Cajundoll Cattery, take a break from the show and play during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston. less

Ragdoll breed show cats 'Quannah Parker' and "Les Bon Temps Rouler", of Cajundoll Cattery, take a break from the show and play during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown ... more

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

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Show cats wait for judging to conclude during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston.

Show cats wait for judging to conclude during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Houston.

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

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Pat Sloan of Stafford pulls his house cat named Tippy in a wagon as they go to the show ring during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Houston. less

Pat Sloan of Stafford pulls his house cat named Tippy in a wagon as they go to the show ring during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center Sunday, Jan. 6, ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle

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Mariah Leal of Manvel reacts to seeing a Maine Coon cat for the first time during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Houston. The cat named Walker is held by Jody Chambers of Ft. Worth weighs 22 pounds. After seeing the cat, Mariah said she wants one. less

Mariah Leal of Manvel reacts to seeing a Maine Coon cat for the first time during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Houston. The ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle

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Vicki Nye judges a house cat named Pasha Blue Halverson that is owned by Kristen Halverson of Bastrop during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show. Household cats were judged on health and beauty, rather than breed standards. less

Vicki Nye judges a house cat named Pasha Blue Halverson that is owned by Kristen Halverson of Bastrop during the Houston Cat Club 60th Annual Charity Cat Show. Household cats were judged on health and beauty, ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff

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Cats take center stage at Houston show

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The life of a show cat is far from rough. There's constant praise, elaborate pampering and detailed beauty regimens.

"Tadford is bathed once a week and is groomed every day," said 58-year-old Pam Bassett. "His fur is conditioned because it dries out just like people's hair. I use anti-static products so his pattern can be seen and his hair doesn't fly up everywhere."

And to keep his newly brushed fur neat, the 9-month-old Silver Tabby Persian wore a large coffee filter around his neck as he waited for his next category to be called Sunday at the Houston Cat Club's 60th Annual Charity Cat Show.

Although Tadford is still a kitten, he adapted quickly to his job as a show cat, Bassett said.

"His little feet have never hit the floor," Bassett said. "When we're at a hotel, Tadford has one bed and I have the other. If there's only one bed, he's on one corner and I'm on the other."

Bassett and Tadford traveled from their home in Baton Rouge, La., so the feline could get closer to grand champion status. After two days of competition he finished six points shy of the required 200.

"It's very different from the show dog world," Bassett said. "These guys don't have to perform, they just have to stand there and be beautiful."

Tadford had plenty of company since about 300 entries competed during the weekend. Household cats were judged on health and beauty, rather than breed standards.

Proceeds are donated to humane organizations in the Houston area. To date, the show has raised more than $800,000 for cat charities.

Anne Paul, who runs Cajun Rag Dolls cattery and hosts her own cat shows, said the animals are more than competitors.

"Whether people have a pedigree cat or a household cat they can learn how to take care of them here," Paul said. "Every show is a way to teach people how to give their pet a better life."

Paul has shown cats since the early 1970s, a tradition she started with her mother.

"I've had cats all my life," Paul said. "My mother and I raised Persian cats together, and I continued to show them after she died."

Paul and her husband live on about two acres of land in West Lake, La., a space large enough for their six children and 15 cats.

In addition to showing pedigreed cats, she has several household cats in competition. Currently, she has the number three household cat in the nation.

"That can be a reality for anyone," Paul said. "If you happen to find a cat, don't just put the responsibility on someone else. Figure out how to take care of it and if you don't know, come to a show, we'll help you out."